NCJ Number
26131
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 42 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1975) Pages: 37-39
Date Published
1975
Length
3 pages
Annotation
A COMMON TYPE OF CONFIDENCE RUSE, THE 'POCKET BOOK DROP' IS DESCRIBED, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING POLICE OPERATIONS RELATING TO CONFIDENCE OPERATOR RECOGNITION AND APPREHENSION ARE OFFERED.
Abstract
IN THE POCKETBOOK DROP SCHEME, TWO PERSONS APPROACH THE VICTIM, CLAIMING TO HAVE FOUND A CONSIDERABLE SUM OF MONEY. AFTER SOME DISCUSSION, THEY OFFER TO SPLIT THE MONEY, BUT STIPULATE THAT EACH MUST PROVE THAT THEY HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO LIVE ON FOR A PERIOD OF TIME TO ENSURE THAT NONE OF THE THREE WILL IMMEDIATELY SPEND THE FOUND MONEY, THUS JEOPARDIZING ALL THREE SHOULD SOMEONE CLAIM THE MONEY. THE VICTIM IS INSTRUCTED TO GO TO THE BANK AND WITHDRAW THE 'SECURITY' MONEY, WHICH THE CONFIDENCE OPERATORS THEN SWITCH FOR FAKE MONEY WHILE THE VICTIM IS DISTRACTED. THE AUTHORS RECOMMEND, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT LOCALIZED POLICE CONFIDENCE UNITS BE IMPLEMENTED, THAT TRAINING IN CONFIDENCE OPERATIONS RECOGNITION BE GIVEN TO RECRUITS AND OFFICERS, AND THAT CLOSER LIAISONS BE ESTABLISHED WITH THE BANKING INDUSTRY. INCREASED EFFORTS IN WARNING THE PUBLIC ABOUT SUCH CONFIDENCE SCHEMES ARE ALSO RECOMMENDED.